The art and science of communicating effectively with data continue to gain prominence across industries, and organizations dedicated to this craft are scaling up to meet growing demand. The team behind storytelling with data (SWD) has officially announced the expansion of its core group, welcoming two well-known professionals in the data visualization and analytics space: Alli Torban and Ryan Biesecker.
The additions follow a rigorous, highly competitive hiring process that drew intense interest from a pool of qualified applicants. For a specialized organization like SWD, adding new members is never a casual decision. Every hire fundamentally shifts how the team interacts with clients, contributes to the broader data community, and supports one another day-to-day. Consequently, the leadership approaches recruitment with a high degree of intentionality, viewing the selection process as a vital investment in the organization’s future culture and impact.
Reflecting on the recruitment journey, leadership noted that the challenge was never a lack of qualified candidates, but rather the opposite. The open Data Storyteller role attracted more than 150 applicants earlier this year. Reviewing applications, designing and evaluating candidate exercises, conducting structured interviews, and holding thoughtful debriefs required a substantial commitment of time and energy from the existing team.
Reviewing such a large volume of talent provided a humbling perspective on the broader data community. The team encountered numerous talented professionals who are actively doing meaningful work to help others communicate more effectively with numbers and visuals. While narrowing down the field to final selections meant difficult decisions and saying no to many exceptional individuals, a primary goal throughout the process was ensuring that every applicant walked away with a positive experience. Because many applicants are active members of the SWD community, leadership expressed hope that they will continue participating in challenges, reading the blog, and pushing the field forward alongside the organization.
The search ultimately culminated in the selection of two distinct professionals whose backgrounds complement the team’s ongoing mission.
Meet the New Data Storytellers
Alli Torban joins the SWD team with a deep, established expertise in data visualization and data literacy. Known widely across the professional community for her passion for helping people truly understand data, Torban brings a wealth of creative experience. She is the host of the well-regarded Data Viz Today podcast and the author of Chart Spark, having served as a thoughtful voice in the data visualization landscape for years.
In her new role at SWD, Torban will contribute across a variety of initiatives, including workshops, content creation, and community engagement. Notably, she will take ownership of the SWD podcast, helping to shape its next chapter while maintaining the high-caliber, insightful conversations that audiences have come to expect.
Ryan Biesecker brings a robust background in consulting and analytics to the team. Throughout his career, Biesecker has specialized in helping organizations leverage data to navigate complex business questions and drive more informed decision-making. He contributes a strong technical foundation, extensive client service experience, and a natural instinct for translating dense analytical findings into clear, actionable insights.
At SWD, Biesecker’s responsibilities will span workshop delivery and content development. In addition, he will apply a data-driven lens to analyze patterns in client work, helping the team better understand existing relationships and identify new opportunities to expand their organizational impact.
Both Torban and Ryan are expected to begin integrating into SWD’s public-facing channels immediately, with their work appearing across workshops, blog posts, and podcasts in the near future.
A Professional History Rooted in Intentional Hiring
For leadership, the process of building a high-performing team evokes familiar lessons from past organizational endeavors. Designing effective evaluation metrics and interview case studies has long been a passion, dating back to team-building efforts at Google. In those previous environments, the objective was always to design assessments that accurately gauged candidate competencies while offering applicants an authentic preview of daily responsibilities—even if occasional leaks required going back to the drawing board to redesign the case studies.
Beyond technical evaluation, the greatest reward of the hiring process has always been the opportunity to view the organization through fresh eyes. Engaging with candidates’ questions and unique perspectives serves as a powerful reminder of how special the underlying work is and what kind of real-world impact the team generates. That same revitalizing perspective was central to the recent hiring cycle for the SWD team.
What This Means for Clients and the Community
The addition of two experienced practitioners directly addresses the organization’s capacity to serve its growing client base. Expanding the team allows SWD to scale up its offerings—particularly team trainings—without compromising the quality, thoughtfulness, and personalized attention that define every client engagement.
By increasing operational capacity, SWD can meet rising demand while staying true to its core identity. It ensures that the organization can continue serving both its corporate clients and its wider educational community, thereby amplifying the reach of a discipline centered on clear communication and better understanding.
Looking Ahead
As Alli Torban and Ryan Biesecker settle into their new roles, the broader SWD team is looking forward to the future with renewed energy. Leadership expressed deep gratitude that both professionals chose to bring their talents to the organization, where they will actively contribute to the ongoing mission of helping people communicate more effectively with data and drive positive change through deeper comprehension.
